As far as known entities go, Sony's flagship racer is in a unique position. While Gran Turismo Sport will hit the finish line later this year, Sony will have to prove this non-numbered racer's worth with a strong showing at E3 (with the added difficulty of showcasing the series' relevance after three years away).
Showcasing shooters is also key; while The Last Guardian will earn plenty of acclaim, that brand of adventure is rarely what sells prospective owners on purchasing your console. In a fractured shooter market that has seen the likes of Destiny, The Division and Overwatch capture market share from more established franchises, like Call of Duty and Battlefield, Guerilla Games was smart to shift from the underperforming Killzone series to an all-new idea in Horizon Zero Dawn.
With a delay into 2017, this E3 is the perfect time to show what a few extra months of development will mean for this ambitious action game.
Firming up details on some far-off releases would be great too. Quantic Dream has always been the go-to developer for breathtaking visuals, so getting more of Detroit: Become Human would be a big showcase for folks on the fence about which console has better graphics.
Even though Naughty Dog is fresh off of Uncharted 4, it wouldn't be totally out of the realm of possibility to tease a sequel to The Last of Us. God of War has been conspicuous in its absence this console generation, and seeing Kratos in action via a dedicated PS4 gore-fest would be fantastic.
However, it's key to think back to last year's announcements. Even though "The Last Guardian showing up at E3" had become something of a running joke, that game in motion alongside surprise announcements, like Final Fantasy VII's remake and Shenmue III, were what (arguably) won E3 for Sony last year.
So, there's Sony's simple path to victory: one game we'd never expect to see in motion alongside the confirmation of two pie-in-the-sky games. Who knows? Maybe Sony's conference this year will show us an HD remake of Metal Gear Solid, confirm Half-Life 3 to launch simultaneously with its Steam release, and start an Indiegogo campaign for Beyond Good & Evil 3. Anything can happen!
There are many fronts Sony needs to be strong on at E3 2016, and winning on one is difficult enough. Still, no company has had the streak of winning showcases like Sony has for years now.
And, as insane as it seems for a company to nail a VR launch, showcase a system upgrade, follow up on big reveals and bring out some new surprises in one fell swoop, it's even crazier to think of Sony dropping the ball after so many successful years.
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